‘TGU guest writer, Patrick Graham, studied history in Venice for three months, becoming attached to their local team Venezia FC, recently promoted to Serie B. Whilst there, it struck...
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Hachim Mastour and Milan: The story of a fenomeno crowned too soon
There is no surer sign of financial difficulty than when a big club, one that is used to being at the top come season’s end, decides that it is...
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Ultra-turned-footballer: The paradoxical nature of Paolo Di Canio
Tell me your favourite incarnation of Paolo Di Canio and I’ll show you what kind of football fan you are. If it’s first-time-scissored-volley-vs-Wimbledon-Di-Canio, you are probably a purist. If...
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Crazy for football: How the beautiful game is helping psychiatric patients in Italy
Between February 23 and 29, 2016 in Osaka Japan, 12 Italian players aged between 20 and 50 took part in the first ever futsal World Cup for people with...
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Exodus: Eddie Firmani and the Lure of the Lire
Back from left: Vicini, Arrigoni, Ocwirk, Firmani, Martini and Bardelli. Front from left: Agnoletto, Farina, Agostinelli, Tortul and Bernasconi. The year is 1956. It is a bright summer’s afternoon...
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Progress in Perugia: The story of Jay Bothroyd’s short but important Serie A spell
“He’s a phenomenon. When an attacker at age 21 is so strong and so prolific it means he is a great one.” Luciano Gaucci wasn’t one for subtlety. Perugia’s...
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Graeme Souness’s 98-day disaster as Torino coach
“Graeme Souness, not Ferguson, knocked Liverpool off the top,” former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher once claimed. The defender was of course was responding to the famous comment made by...
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Serie C and the sustainability of lower level football
Just under two years ago, I stood on the Curva Té of the Stadio Martelli in Mantua, to watch home side Mantova take on Pro Patria. It was my...
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Remembering Wesley Sneijder’s poetic campaign at Inter
Some players are just meant to be loved, whether that’s in the peak of their careers or further down the line when people realized they didn’t fully appreciate what...
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Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication: Tracing the miraculous revival of SPAL
“Nobody thought we could get to this point,” were the words of SPAL coach Leonardo Semplici after his side had confirmed their promotion to Serie A last season. “We...
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